Watson and Starc are in contention

Brisbane: Shane Watson and Mitchell Starc will come under consideration for Australia in next week’s second Test at Adelaide after drawing the series opener with South Africa, coach Mickey Arthur said on Wednesday.

Watson missed the first Gabba Test with a calf injury while selectors preferred spinner Nathan Lyon to left-arm paceman Starc in the team.

The Australians came out of the first of three Tests with an edge over the world No. 1 Proteas and Arthur expects them to come back strong in Adelaide. Australia need to win the series to take the No.1 ranking away from South Africa.

Arthur, who was South Africa’s coach when they won an historic first series in Australia in 2008-09, said all-rounder Watson would come into “a huge amount of consideration” to play in the second Test, starting on November 22.